Seeds

At Prairie Moon Nursery we strive to have the best quality seed available. We sell source identified ecotypes from our production fields and from a network of more than 70 seed producers located throughout the upper Midwest. Our building is designed and equipped to maintain optimal conditions for seed viability and freshness. Temperature and humidity are specifically controlled in each work area, from receiving through seed cleaning and processing to the stock shelves and long-term storage.

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Common Arrowhead is found in very wet soils. Attractive white flowers emerge mid to late summer. Another common name that is atributed to this species is Duck Potato. The tuberous root is edible to wildlife and has traditionally been eaten by Native Americans.

Lyre-leaved Sage flowers are white to light blue and bloom early in the season. It is a robust, self seeding species that appreciates medium to moister soils. It's native range is a large southeastern swath of the United States from Connecticut to Missouri, south.

Bloodroot displays its beauty in 2 stages. Stunning white blossoms appear for a very short time early spring, emitting a wonderful fragrance that attracts many kinds of early-flying bees. At the flowering stage a light green leaf is wrapped around the stem of the flower. When the flower fades, the leaf opens in a very unique shape as large as 6" in diameter.

Swamp saxifrage is a wet to medium wet soil species that will tolerate full sun to full shade. Flower stalks emerge early in spring with greenish yellow flowers. The leaves are clustered in a rosette at the ground.

Hardstem Bulrush is a typical wetland species. It is one of the taller bulrush species that can get as tall as six feet and can be aggressive through rhizomatous roots.
Hardstem Bulrush actively grows during the spring and fall when soil temperatures are cool. Another botanical name in use is Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.

Wild Senna deserves more recognition as a great choice for garden or restoration projects. Its lovely, bright yellow flowers attract many bees and butterflies. Autumn brings beautiful leaf colors and the formation of long black pods with seeds favored by larger birds like wild turkeys.

It is very difficult to distinguish Maryland Senna from its relative, Wild Senna (Senna herbecarpa) until the 2 species have ripe seeds. The Wild Senna will readily open its pod and the seeds will fall out, whereas the Maryland Senna seed pods will stay tightly closed.

Fire Pink may also be called Scarlet Catchfly and it's these scarlet red flowers that hummingbirds are attracted to. The sepals of the flowers are sticky (like those of its cousin Silene regia, Royal Catchfly) to deter ants from climbing and feeding on the nectar.

A true icon of the prairies, Compass Plant is an incredible addition to your landscape. Given moist, rich soils, mature compass plants can reach upwards of 8 feet in height. It is quite a sight to see pollinators flit from flower to flower while birds perch upon the stems.

Looking for a splash of color during the spring to summer transition? A large patch of these little plants is truly a site to behold, especially if you are a bee. Pollinators readily take to the flowers, which is nice considering that most Sisyrinchium species bloom and provide pollen and nectar to our winged friends before some of the larger summer flowers really get going.

Prairie Blue-eyed Grass is a lovely, spring-blooming wildflower that is related to the iris and sports pale lavender blossoms and grass-like leaves that overlap in iris-like fans. This low-growing (6") sun-lover will tolerate some shade but prefers well-drained soils. It forms clumps and will self-seed in optimal conditions.

New! Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod is a well-behaved woodland species. It forms attractive loose clumps with arching stems and long, thin leaves. Small clusters of bright yellow flowers form in the leaf axils for about half the stem's length. Stem color in mature plants has a dark, somewhat bluish tone. Many insects find this Goldenrod a source of nectar and pollen.

Goldenrods are a diverse group of species, and some of them can be easily mistaken for each other. Late goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) is common to seasonally moist or wet, open ground. Occasionally it is found on drier ground or in part shade. The stems of late goldenrod are smooth and hairless below the inflorescence.

This is an excellent plant for a difficult spot where little else will grow. Old Field Goldenrod likes full sun and dry soil, even poor, rocky, clay slopes with little organic matter. It is also called Gray Goldenrod

Showy Goldenrod tends to bloom a little later than most Goldenrods. It is indeed one of the showiest of the genus with a feathery plume comprised of a dense clump of pale yellow to deep yellow flowers atop an attractive red stem.

Elm-leaved Goldenrod is one of the shorter goldenrods. It's height tops out at three feet. It is found in medium to dry soils, and is best in shaded to semi-shaded situations. The yellow flowers of Goldenrod are appreciated by the insects in the fall when they are getting ready for winter.

Great Bur Reed is a wet soil, full sun wildflower (although it can be mistaken for a grass) that gets up to four feet tall. The flowers and seed heads give interest during most of the growing season. Lime green balls become beautiful white flowers that turn into spiked green balls that eventually turn a contrasting brown color.

As the name implies, Sand Dropseed prefers a dry sand prairie; slightly heavier dry soils will be fine also. Bobwhite quail are known to eat the seed. Topping out at about three feet, this is one of the shorter prairie grasses.

Prairie Dropseed, also called Northern Dropseed, makes a beautiful display in the prairie or garden with its long flowing blades and spiked seed heads. The fall color is golden and lasts through winter.

One of the first flowers you may notice in spring could be a cluster of white bell flowers on Bladdernut. The flowers form interesting bladder pods that persist through summer. This is a woodland species that forms thickets from rhizomes. Bladdernut likes rich, acidic soils.

Porcupine Grass is a cool-season bunch grass with specialized florets that are self-planting. The needle-sharp floret and angled hairs orient the seed to soil, while a sensitive awn coils when dry and uncoils when wet, working the floret into the ground.

Commonly called White Trillium or Great White Trillium, this plant is a "must-have" for any woodland area in the Midwest or Northeast. It can be difficult to grow from seed; click on the product for more details...

A member of the Lily family, Bellwort is an excellent early-blooming native shade plant for the woodland garden, shaded border front, wildflower garden or naturalized area. The Bellwort flowers and leaves have an overall droopy appearance when in bloom.

The blue-purple flower spikes will persist for 4-6 weeks, usually spanning July and August. The seeds are a staple for many small mammals and birds that depend on this widely-distributed plant. The gray-green leaves are fuzzy on both sides and are the larval host for the Common Buckeye Butterfly.